Well good evening everybody. I think we're ready to start the seedings program
Welcome to the ninety fifth. Grader Cocker Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in
citizen of the year or banquet. We are great grateful to have. Really
a capacity crowd here this evening and it's wonderful that you all took the time to
come out we're going to have
a very interesting evening we're going to recognize some individuals that you know
folks that are no stranger to the community so. I think we're ready to get started
. We have invited the Reverend Peter Hay who is with Wesleyan
Methodist Church. To give this evening's invocation so I would like to invite
reverend to the podium to do so.
Well it really is an honor and delight to be with you this night Byron chaplet is
a member of Wesley church and has guided that congregation with great wisdom in and
the jovial and faithful spirit so we're delighted that he'll be offering that same
gift to the Chamber of Commerce in the coming year and I counted and honored to be
with you this night and I invite us in whatever way that makes each one of us
comfortable to pause and. Ask God's presence and God's blessing on this night would
you pray with me. Gracious and loving God we thank you for the joy of this
night. For the privilege of on entering those who have served our community well.
And for the joy of friendship that we know around these tables we ask that
the mystery of your goodness would be magnified in all that we do. And we
pray this in your strong mean. Thank you
Reverend hay. We are very grateful to many generous sponsors who have supported
this evening's event are presenting sponsor this year is Bank of America and we are
very grateful that they took this leadership role in the chamber and that Bank of
America is our primary sponsor to see evening so please join me in showing
appreciation to that fine organization.
I'd also like to read recognize some of our other sponsors to see evening the wind
on the tables as complimentary compliments of the clean craft Rollason and
Middleton our corporate sponsors this evening
a fair point communications people's United Bank and unitil. Our event sponsors
Courtyard by Marriott proponent conference center Dartmouth Hitchcock Concords
divine Milam it the H.L.
Turner group Lincoln Financial Merrimack County savings bank Nathan Wexler and
company ne Delta Dental or in Reno Public Service of New Hampshire
auto parts and T.D.
Beck our associate sponsor is Cleveland waters and bass our printing sponsor is
speedy printing and copy and supporting sponsors are covered Hospital in New
Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation the floral arrangements came from
D. MacLeod ink and just draw your attention six
o three breweries and New Hampshire distributors. Came together and created the
C.C.L.
American ale and this is ale to commemorate the Concords two hundred fifty birthday
celebration if you look at the back of the room there are samples for each of you
to take home on your way out so please grab one of those and I have sampled
numerous bottles of that and I can attest that it's quite good.
Just
a few words before we before we begin dinner. We're going to go do
the changing of the gavel your chamber board leadership really achieved
a great deal of the last twelve months we have
a great group of volunteer leaders I think that we have one of the finest nonprofit
boards in New Hampshire and each board chair brings kind of their unique talents
and skills to the table I've had the distinct opportunity to work with Bobby Segal
over a number of years in
a number of different capacities but this year as as he was chairman of the board
of the chamber so we were quite closely together. Bobby is
a creative and he's an outside the box thinker so much so that I had to train
myself over the year to sort of avoid need jerk reactions to some of his more
unique ideas how to let them germinate
a little bit because sometimes what seemed like kind of
a crazy idea at first after
a while it turned out to be something actually rather quite brilliant. Bobby's
a great guy to work with he ran monthly board meetings that were both substantive
and they were fun. He was effective in motivating his fellow board members to get
things done. I can tell you that he kept me on track in
a gentle and generous way but with authority and with
a great sense of humor. I can tell you that his ideas were very
influential in the strategic direction that the chamber will be taking in the next
year we went through a strategic planning process and Bobby played
a very important role in guiding that. It is with
a mixture of much gratitude and also
a little sadness that I invite body up to the podium for one of his last official
duties as chairman of the board so please join me in recognizing Bobby's
contributions to this are going to. Be
please
. Tim thank you in.
We mock what we don't understand him so. It's so
anyways good evening and I'm glad that everyone's here. Boy it's been
a fast year a year ago. You know might term start off with
a bang with with my late father George Segal he was named the two thousand and
thirteen Chamber of Commerce outstanding says citizen of the year my dear father
had no idea that he had been nominated or that he had won.
Anyone who was sitting sitting at the table were Nikki Clark is in fact in my
mother's nudging it was like you know that you and. It never occurred to him that
it just was something that he was just that's not in his his hardwiring that he
would ever be recognized for anything so. But I cherish that evening it was
a it was a beautiful evening and it meant
a lot to me in our family and so I just want to think Dean more sin.
The former chairs who. Participated in that selection process of Thank you Dean I
see over there so thank you very much so being I'm the chairman of the board of the
greater Concord Chamber of Commerce's one of the most prestigious in the most
highly visible volunteer responsibilities in our community I've had the opportunity
to participate and many boards and often in Perhaps you've seen this in your
experience is that some boards are either their board driven or their staff
chairman and at the chamber it's this unique culture
where it's complete alignment from the board the committee chairs the committee
members and staff so it's
a really unique environment and that's what makes this place else so special.
Because get
a lot of things done so this past year some of the activities at the Chamber. That
you've all of you've done it's been very active with the program here with three to
four major events scheduled each month and they included trade shows. Concord young
professional network seminar seminars sippin So if you are forty or twenty or
younger I think it is. But I don't know but they do sell fake ID is so
odd. Douglas is over there looking how do I get involved with this program.
Launched a new board news program and you know providing
a board governance training for local board internships for emerging community
leaders such as part of leadership greater Concord sippin. So the part they parted
this past year with ten highly functioning local state nonprofits maximize the
chamber website search engine optimisation through greater incorporation of members
social media sites Carla greatly increases increasing member visibility around the
free world so that our place we get
a good Julian site which you know it's an out of parts store who would think but it
does work. And I think most importantly we spent
a lot of time with Biron's leadership that we crafted
a cohesive strategy for the coming year to promote the region promote the chamber
as
a capital region. Visitor destination site utilizing social media strategy
hosting travel writers as well as and most importantly I think as we've positioned
the chamber in the long run to be advocates at the state level it's our state house
it's our town we should be there.
Eighty eighty so is there any I want to
think again who is Dean thank you for encouraging me to do this. I was going to do
it but. You know you're right on it it's a great experience I learned
a lot it's
a great it's the best I think it's the best poured in in the region so thank you
think the board for coming up to with me and making sure that trying to keep me
serious for about five minutes when I think the committee chairs the volunteers.
You know you guys they put
a lot of time into this and I don't think anyone really tracks
a time when you think about how much time away from your business. To be here to
get so much done so thank you very much that you know time is the most valuable
commodity and for you to put in the time when you know thank you so much you can
done. And I want to think of going directors
some heavyweights here powerful conqueror writes Peggy center from the music school
was Peggy there's Peggy.
Lead from New Hampshire Public Radio. Presenter.
Great job thank you. My dear friend counselor Fred teach.
Thanks so thank you so much and please stay connected we miss you
already. I know you can't leave all the plants but please come back.
One of the other things is in my position you know I had an opportunity to really
get to know him and I am in awe of Tim's energy is grit and determination
I think he's
a community treasure so thank you. And
like was discussed last year with merriment often we have an awesome professional
staff and we really. Are fortunate to have people like our vice president
Valerie Blake. So. Lead membership
manager and sales manager Kathy bacon Thank you Kathy lead our events
corner. So thank you thank.
Our communications. Manager and gifted are
a speck he can thank you Becky. With and of course our visitors center manager
Kathy care Kathy Carolyn O'BRIEN So thank you Kim with. Of that
and you know you can't do this alone so
a good Julian thanks to my wife Betsy who couldn't make it here my daughter's
Allison in Libby and my brother who somewhere and that is here yet and my
colleagues that sent
a lot of parts because I was you know for covering for me while I was working with
the chamber so thank you very much and. So it was
a great year and. Byron tell us they're all your people it's
a great job thank you
of the Bobby
Bobby wants to run right back down to the table however. I've been charged with
presenting him with this lovely plaque which which I should say that in. Facetious
way you well I can't be with you but but I have to say that Bobby Segal is
is an outstanding business leader an outstanding you know leader in the chamber and
an outstanding man and it's been
a pleasure serving with him I have more formal remarks to that to that regard but
this also tells me what I'm going to get in
a year when they kick my butt off of here you know Gary walked up to me Who's Who
is the chair elect and he said Boy I hate to be an exit strategy but you are stay
healthy OK. But in any case Bobbie you have been an outstanding leader you've been
a terrific chairman of the board and it's I'm I'm eternally grateful for the fact
that we have an institution where you will be the immediate past chair and still at
the table for the next. It For Me So thank you so much.
Faith
. So now you're stuck with me.
Thank you. I know well it's because Earl and I share
a birthday and if you ever saw the film twins with Danny De Vito and all
Schwarzenegger. Has. In any
case thank you so much Bobby and thank you for your you know for everything you've
done over the past year about thirty years ago I was asked to chair the board of
The New London New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and at the time. You know I didn't
really think of myself as
a business leader but I figured you know what the heck this is an opportunity that
only comes around you know once in life. Was I ever wrong.
But I'm particularly glad that I was wrong I'm deeply honored to be asked to assume
the chair of the greater Concord Chamber of Commerce board of directors over the
past few years of serving on the board I've been impressed with the quality of its
members and the breadth and depth of their experience and business Ackerman.
It's no exaggeration to say that I am humbled to serve with them it's
a great ward for
a great organization I also have to admit that Bobby will be
a tough act to follow he already is. He has been energetic and
imaginative and doozie ASDIC and forward thinking and funny as H.
He double hockey sticks. He has been totally dedicated to advancing the
chamber. I'll do my best Bobby to live up to the standard you have set and by the
standards set by our predecessors many of whom have been able to join us here
tonight. I'd also like to add my thanks to Peggy and Fred and Ana
It has been my pleasure to serve with you and I appreciate your contribution to
Congress business community. At the same time it is my very real pleasure tonight
to introduce the new members of the board of directors they are and I'd like to ask
them to stand as I introduce them. Excuse me.
Double sided printers that's
a terrible thing to have first. Of associated growth grocers of New England Mike I
know you're here I saw your there. Before. The
first Susan Dunton president of N H T I New Hampshire's community rather Congress
community college student Jerry gap
and general manager of the Hampshire Motor Speedway
Steve and Jessica actual men of the
Hampshire Humanities Council who is our Concord young professionals Representative
Steve that I welcome to all of you I
hope that you find Bert Bard service as fruitful and as fulfilling as I have. For
some time I have believed that conquered is at
a crossroads moment in its history. A time of opportunity and of roads to be taken
that will lead us to
a brighter and even more productive future. I also believe that
a strong and active chamber of commerce can be
a pivotal player in helping to guide this city towards that future so that and in
the coming year the chamber will be focused on four key initiatives and Bobby
touched on this during his remarks and I have to say that it's due to his vision.
In initiating the strategic planning process that we have set upon these goals the
first is to build stronger ties as Bobby said to our city and county legislative
delegation at the state house in order to better serve the needs of the Capital
Region business community as Bobby said you know it's our city is the state capital
is here we need to have
a greater presence. Second we will be actively promoting the capital region as
a visitor destination leveraging our advantage as
a central Crossroads Community in the process no city in the state is better
positioned than Concord to play this role and no city in the state is more
deserving. To be stepping into
a role of prominence than conqueror. Third we will explore the
chamber's appropriate role in the capital region's economic development initiatives
the chamber has the know how it has the connections it should be involved and
growing conquered economically and finally we'll continue to improve membership
retention and to grow our membership because
a healthy chamber is the foundation of all of these other goals. Let me close
because tim so told me I only had ten minutes. By thanking you for this opportunity
to serve as Bobby pointed out we are blessed with
a dynamic hardworking president and Tim St And Tim has built
a first rate staff to support our initiatives and our members I look forward to
working with him and his team and to serving you and to be serving you in the
coming year as chairman of the board I'm told that now you don't have to listen to
any more talking for
a little while you can sit down and enjoy your meal until the next part of the
program starts so thank you very much
anything good evening thank you
and again. This kitten
a few minutes late here so it is
a school night. So again thank you to Bank of America and
all of our sponsors for tonight's activity so thank you so much.
Pain so this year we decided to shake it up and do things
a little differently than we have in the past so instead of having to speak air
that quite frankly none of us will remember anyways. It's time to
take
a look back and. We should thank and recognize all of the leaders that made it happen
think about this this is in the community in
a small community of Concord and somebody just said to this to me just I think
Steve Camerino it's like it's amazing what has been done in this small community
and all the leadership and the and the skills that people have to get the job
done forget about the ego Forget about just focus on the goal and get it done and
it's amazing what has been done in the last forty years so the theme of tonight is
conquered past present and future. The Chamber is
a place where communal in leaders and visionaries come together to share their
talents and to get things done that's true to help build upon economic vitality and
quality of life in our great community tonight we honor some of these individuals
that have done just that they use the convening power of the chamber to bring us
together of the of the special skills and talents of many generous and civic minded
members of our community and good things happen not good thing great things
happened. Great things happened in Concord not Nashua not Manchester
Concord This is our town. So many of these people here tonight we've prepared
a short video that highlights just
a few of the some of the most recent initiatives. The set of positive impact and I
community and the imagery in the vigils that provided the leadership to many things
happened. So one thing concrete T.V.
Doors Ballard Chris gentry and Sean the Camry for their hard work that they produce
a video and of course to stay mute in the chamber Steph and Brianna for all
your great work still thank you very much and it's time to push play those of us
who have lived in CA good for quite
a while I've noticed over the years that our main street just haven't kept up and
Main Streets are gathering places they're sort of like the communities living right
so it's really important for the health of
a community in the sense of community as well as for our merchants but I think the
community came together again with the leadership of the city manager and the mayor
and engineering department public works and the support of the city council and all
these other groups and put together
a great application and then we did what you should do which is we became advocates
for the tiger Graham between became aware of this program the Tigers Gramp the city
was receptive but it really was the Chamber of Commerce which played the leading
role in generating last week support.
We managed to hit the target accept the lives they were happy to donate
a couple hundred bucks a piece of the public radio project would be to raise
a four point four million dollars We have Bob. Forty people involved we need every
morning I've been asked to come here today to talk about the origin of Concord
twenty twenty. Twenty twenty was he coming together of several
organizations communities to. Build Very know was mayor at the time very
instrumental in bringing together concerns of the New Hampshire D.O.T.
For the pending widening of I ninety three. The chamber was involved in
a number of analyses and studies of the zoning planning regulations and their
impact on development and we were able to secure
a series of grants which I think over
a period of eight or ten years total of over two million dollars and that helped us
formulate the twenty twenty vision which would result in the time in the chamber
was not only the host of this effort but. The stalwart of it in the sense that they
were the staff of the continuing presence in the chamber was really instrumental in
making the twenty twenty vision. Come to reality. I wasn't around at the beginning
of the Center for the arts I do you know it started with
a small group of believers who had this dream and dared to dream that they could
take the spill out tainted the iter and bring it back to
a performing arts center and the initial group of believers started very quietly
and then they worked to another little larger group of people and from there the
momentum got started and as I understand it in the early journey the chamber played
a critical role because it became the incubator for the very first staff person who
was hired and that was Nancy Brownstein and it's all about leadership so there are
three people I know of who have been chairs of the Chamber of Commerce who also
played really critical roles for the for the Capitol Center one is Mark and we
absolutely. Thank Him because we would not have that gorgeous ceiling of the
capital center if he hadn't gotten the vision to do it and to be able to do it with
volunteers The second is Jane bird what she served by now at some point as chairman
of the chamber but she also stepped in after and team and you know passed away and
served as the interim director for the Capital Center and the third is Mary
McLaughlin and Mary was there in those early years too and then she came back on
the board of the Capital Center and was the chair when I arrived in two thousand
and seven and I thank her because she introduced me to the chamber and all the
components thereof and it really got me involved in the community. Of New Hampshire
craftsman is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country and we had been
very old building on North Main Street as its headquarters since one thousand nine
hundred forty six which required for a dollar we had been looking at
a property outside of Congress very seriously to move into our headquarters and I
was given
a phone call by Tim sank some time in the spring of two thousand and nine and Jim
said Susie were very concerned that we could believe might be leaving Concord Can
we talk so we're really we're very grateful to the Concord creative economy for
being able to not only. Come up with
a very creative idea on how to keep the lead in concrete but to offer Cheryl their
passion and their sincere interest in keeping the league in Concord we actually
moved into the space in August of two thousand and eleven and have absolutely
quadrupled our visitor ship I think the genius of the creative recovery effort here
it really goes back to and to the always that knowledge as the person who certainly
was my mentor in this area. For quite
a while had tried to advance the idea of the city adopted creating. Adopting
a creative autonomy plan. And so the fact that we could create
a committee that was housed in the chamber that received back office support from
the chamber and staff support from the chamber to me was
a great advantage and I think that you know one of the advantages of creative that
was besides the fact that we had the support of the chamber and we were housed in
the chamber that it managed to help us attract members of both the business
community and the arts and cultural community of the city to work collaboratively
to identify major initiatives in the creative economy you know and to advance to
create a lot of. My name is Jim know what can and. I've been
a member of the Chamber of Commerce who are. Fifteen years. Congress that's
probably one of the most exciting programs that I got involved with at the chamber
and we were recognizing that there were not enough new people young people coming
along who could take significant leadership position in the future on the many
boards and committees that the chamber had and that the city and so we put
a steering committee together the board of trustees and. Started off with the first
program and one nine hundred ninety three and since then we've added over four
hundred fifty graduates. The program has continued to be. Very
significant very important community and one that's made
a great deal of different types of needed new life blood in their community and
leadership concrete and the Chamber of Commerce provided that we affectionately
call ourselves said Pen which stands for the Concord young professional network
when I came to the Concord Community I had been hired with the downtown group at
the time and one of the first things I had done at. As
a thirty something in the conference area was go to the chamber and ask about the
young professionals and been involved in the state and I know it's just
a must for somebody of my age but I think often we think of the young professional
network all about jobs and of course it is OUR it's connections beyond its
connections to volunteer opportunities whether might be helping out for one day
with a nonprofit blessing. Or perhaps board service for
a nonprofit that serving ongoing need. I am Helen
Hamilton the founder of the Capital Area Student Leadership Program known as Castle
this is a wonderful opportunity to speak about castle which came
a reality twenty one years ago under the auspices of the great of conflict train
her of Commerce the idea came about because as
a Ronna and racing for turtle town athletic club with many miles or training on my
hand I consequently had time to think about
a lot of things and somewhere along the way it occurred to me that it might be
important to establish
a program for high school students similar to the Concord adult leadership program
this very day program follow
a regular school schedule History and Government Communication day justice in the
courts and graduation
a lot of good things happen in Concord because the Chamber of Commerce convenes of
me gets people together talks about possibilities and then those start to gel
chambers always been the table and
a great partner for the city and I can encourage you enough to get involved with
the trade reactivity signing one that's particularly of interest to you but know
that it's part of the larger picture.
So thank you again for the for there on time and. Talent in putting that video
together and producing that video for us the purpose of that really was to
recognize
a number of individuals that use the chamber to get things done in this community
so you've seen a number of examples
a very talented community minded people that were able to use the chambers
convening powers to get things done and many many of these folks are here with us
tonight. Another one of Bobby's ideas was to invite former Board chairs back to
this event to present them with an honorary lifetime membership in the chamber so
we sent out the invitation we have twenty two former Board chairs that are with us
tonight.
Each one of them brought their own unique set of talents to bear on this
organization and this community is so much the better for it. The Their aggregate
list of achievements is far too extensive to detail so we're not going to have
marks them up for
a long speeches. But I will we'll invite each of them to come forward
we're going to be given with the most recent. Immediate past chair and going back
in time to the earliest chair that we could find to join us tonight as I call your
name please come forward accept your honorary medallion and please form
a line in front of the podium to be recognized. So
our most recent past board chair Mary McLaughlin from T.D.
Bank.
And I'm going to do this in succession so I'm going to ask that you hold your
applause to the end otherwise we could be here for
a while see where you can to join right down here and then line up here. Next D.
Mohsen from Concord Hospital. Next Mary
devolved from Concord regional visiting visiting nurse Association. Peter
burger from all in Reno. Mark Serrano ski from Super all skiers So see
it's. They're not they're not paying attention.
OK you can stand over there that's OK. To resell Rosenberger from divine
strategies. Richard Heath Richard M. Heath P. H. G.
Masiello group. John Ransom Meyer. Brands Myron Spellman.
Mark are. Just.
That you know what I go through every day.
I'm sorry folks we didn't we didn't rehearse this. Michael Green retired Concord
Hospital. Patricia Sherman. All Pierce
Pierce public affairs. Steve Camerino McClain Graff Rollason and
Middleton. Jack Porter U.S.
Science church services. Jim Millikan modern woodmen of
America. James Berwick.
Dave problem then right road development advisors and then
a Lorber. Can Bradley.
Jerry Guerin. John Swope.
Dr Robert Wilson. And last but certainly not least Cedric Dustin.
We're going to take this opportunity for
a photo opportunity. Once we get once we get them lined up.
Before this disintegrates to much further into
a reunion I'm going to ask you all to recognize. Wonderful volunteers that
serve this organization so well over so many of.
Thank you all board chairs it was
a pleasure working I didn't work with all of you but I worked with many of you and
it was
a distinct pleasure and an honor thank you so much for being here and honoring us
with your presence tonight.
And now we we have
a very special presentation to make tonight the Says the culmination of the evening
Mary McLaughlin who we just recognized the immediate past chair chairs our.
Outstanding citizen of the year selection committee that committee is made up of
a number of former past chairs so Mary has the honor of making tonight's
presentation so Mary.
Thank you Tim. As the immediate past chair.
I did have the honor and privilege of serving as the chair of the as
a citizen of the year committee and I have to say that hands down this person that
we selected we were all just amazed that this person had not actually received the
award before and. This was definitely the top choice
and as I read through the citation I think you're probably ultimately going to know
who the Says And so when I. Say the name at the end if you want to yell it out with
me I would love to have you do that because I think you're all going to agree this
is just totally a unanimous decision. Our annual meeting culminates in
a moment of heartfelt inspiration as we gather to honor
a widely respected individual who fully embodies the spirit of the highest award
given by the greater Concord Chamber of Commerce the outstanding citizen of the
Year award. This evening we recognize
a native son who grew up in Concord attended Concord High School and Dartmouth
College began his career out of state and returned to guide one of our region's
largest employers through tremendous change and robust sustained growth. Our
honoree is well known from countless speaking appearances at public and private
events and from serving on numerous civic endeavors in our community spanning more
than twenty years an intimate knowledge of the evolving healthcare environment has
made our recipient a recognized authority in his field with
a grasp of the challenges and issues they are in ravelled unrivaled practically all
of us have read news updates and other articles highlighting his achievement or
quoting him as an expert source on the state of health care delivery not only in
New Hampshire but on a regional and national level. Our honoree has been both
a visionary and a pragmatic community leader resulting in access to
a level of medical care for residents throughout the region that is virtually
unsurpassed in our state along with
a focus on excellence in care and service delivery the person we honor tonight has
created
a culture of healthcare philanthropy the organization he led now routinely provides
more than forty million dollars of medical care to those who cannot afford it.
Significantly improving the quality of life as well as the social and cultural
fabric of the community. Through our honorees leadership the organization he
steered has been recognized for numerous awards and achievements including business
of the year New Hampshire employer of the year partner for healthy change hospitals
for
a healthy environment business in the arts award best company to work for and most
wired hospitals to name a few in his spare time
a recipient has given generously of his time and talent to serve as
a board member and volunteer for
a number of nonprofit organizations including the Concord Y.M.C.A.
Foundation for healthy communities conquered rotary and the greater Concord Chamber
of Commerce. Do you know who this is yet. In retirement he can he
continues to serve on such boards as the Concord group insurance unitil and
Merrimack County savings bank without
a doubt our newly named citizen of the year has clearly earned the many accolades
he received as
a visionary community leader it is with great honor that the greater Concord
Chamber of Commerce recognizes the two thousand and fourteen outstanding citizen of
the year. MICHAEL way. To in.
A.
Way
. A.
I'm on earth and humbled. By this recognition I want to thank the selection
committee and I certainly want to thank the chamber Tim has been a
a wonderful president of the chamber for decades at this point in time and I've had
the pleasure of working with him in the past and I think he's made
a big difference in this community. It's
a real privilege to have had the opportunity to serve in the way that I have over
the last several decades and I feel like i'm always been
a very fortunate individual I've had the opportunity to work with great people
throughout my professional career particularly in this community and it's
a very special community and I want to thank all of the people that I've had the
opportunity to work with in particular though I want to thank my wife and family.
The job that I had the job that I did took it's toll so to speak in terms of the
number of demands that it has. I loved what I did sometimes it was
at the expense of family and that's something that's
a very difficult thing to balance as
a professional and I feel very fortunate I've had
a wonderful supportive wife Andrea and my children.
Will be and it's interest in it when you're when you have the kind of job that is
a high profile job you're on stage
a lot at least you feel like you're on stage sometimes when you go home you fall
off the back of the stage. And it's just it's a it's
a difficult balance to keep up I do want to again say that you know I did grow up
in this community I think it's
a terrific community I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to come back to
this community and I suspect like George Segal like Tom Brown like other people who
are native to this community it's an extraordinary feeling to be recognized
in this way so I want to thank you all. My good fortune is really because of all
the people I've had around me all of my career Thank you.
Ah
. Thank you Mike for being here tonight
you do us an honor Mary thank you thank you all for coming and being with us
celebrating our ninety fifth annual meeting that concludes this meeting please
remember to grab the C.C.L.
On your way out those that are left behind I can assure you I will take them home
with me but I'd rather I'd rather you take them home with you thank you again for
coming.